Happiness is __________{week 12} #happinessis

I am linking up today with Lisa over at Crazy Adventures in Parenting and sharing what Happiness is for me.  And aside from yesterdays post, there has been lots of happiness going on around here!

Happiness is having kids in the kitchen!  Growing up, veggies were always my job while dad cooked and I love when these guys help me out.

Together we made a meal we all enjoyed.  Lex at a whole fillet of fish plus another half! Ant chose to have leftovers for dinner the next night!

Happiness is knowing I am capable of fixing things around the house.  Even if I broke it even more before I finally got it fixed!

Happiness is bringing this beautiful girl home and helping her find her forever home!  Meet our foster dog, Haiku! Anyone looking to add another 4 legs to the family?  She is sweet as can be and just beautiful!

Happiness is knowing that I am making progress in my runs.  I used to only be able to get a mile or two in a week before the pain and fatigue took over.  Now I am getting in 1-3 miles a run.  

And last but not at all least, is finding this guys sleeping just like he did when he was a baby.  Like a turtle.  It was a reminder of how far we have come.  How much we have all grown. Still a few miles behind Lisa!

What made you happy this week?  Don't forget to stop by Crazy Adventures in Parenting and see what is making others happy!

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Rolling with the punches!

You know what is awesome?  Its Thursday!  And even though it has been a really rough week, Im going to 

roll with it.  

Sunday I actually went for a run before noon!  And Monday I made 3 miles, pain free!  That was the highlight of my week so far.  I may have been slow, but I got there and I didn't feel like my insides were beat up afterwards!  

Tuesdays I had a follow up with my hematologists.  My labs have been all over the place but yesterdays results are in and my INR is on its way back down.  She also put in an order for a home testing kit for me.  If it all goes through, my veins are going to be very happy.  I can handle a weekly finger prick!  One less needle and bruise, Ill take it!

Yesterday was bad.  My meds sucked all the life out of me.  And I could not hydrate myself enough.  I didn't keep any of my food down.  But it made me angry and managed to clear up a few piles of paperwork and mail that had piled up on my desk.  And God bless left overs.  Man am I glad I made that big ole lasagna Tuesday night.  No cooking meant I could get some rest. David ran out and got me some Gatorade after dinner which seems to be helping!

And now its Thursday.  I crawled back in bed after dropping Ant off at the bus stop and sending David off to work. My sister was up early, so I crashed.  Didn't wake up till noon.  I had a sandwich for lunch and its staying down! Knock on wood.  

I had planned on running 6 days this week, but since I'm rolling with it, I've knocked it down to 5 days and yes I know that means I will lace up for the next 3 days.  I got this.  Right?  

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Whats a girl gotta do for a run around here?!

This year I committed to getting healthy.  And I admitted to my commitment issues.  January I spent a lot of time thinking it all out.  What I needed to do.  What I wanted to do.  How committed I could be and how to keep my commitments.  Wow, that's a lot of C words for someone with issues. So this month I decided to get my butt in gear.

I started counting my calories again.  And I also started walking/running again. I downloaded the C25K app and started on the 1st of the month.  Two weeks in, no budge on the scale, but I was feeling great!  My stress and anxiety were at an all time low.  I was calmer and less snappy.  Just all around better.

Week one was pretty smooth.  Run one minuet and walk one and a half.  Week 2 was harder, but manageable.  I had figured out my breathing.  The hardest part was trying to figure out how fast or slow to go.  Of course being on a treadmill in the garage isn't ideal, but I'm not comfortable yet with running in public.  On the last day of week 2 I slowed down my run and sped up my walk a little bit.  I also find that running on an incline is less awkward.

I noticed some pain in my ankle on the first day of week two but figured it was just because I was finally using them again!  That day, after my timed run was over, I decided to stop.  The past few runs I kept going a mile or 2 more.  I took a rest day. The second day of week 2 was hard.  Then came day 3.  Half way though the run, I called David, yes on the phone, from the garage.  I figured if I stopped to switch shoes, I wouldn't come back out and finish it.  So he brought out my other pair of sneakers out, I switched shoes and jumped back on.  By the time I was finished, I could not put my foot flat.  What the heck did I do!

Now its been 5 days of no running and I am dying here.  I'm angry and upset.  I still cant walk with my foot flat.  I have been putting my weight on the outer part of my foot.  And of course that has me hurting clear up to my knee.  I've stretched and rubbed. Heated and cooled.  I'm trying to think back if I have ever had this problem.  Bad knees, yes, but never my ankle.  Great...

No running and only light walking and the pain is still there.  I did run a little bit at the park yesterday but stopped when I realized I was running on the side of my foot.  Better not make things worse right?!  I think it might be because of my flat feet and my need of proper running shoes.  The shoe problem I can fix, but there isn't much I can do about my feet.  But I will be back at it again soon.  Even if I have to start this program all over again.  I will.  Because running has been better than any medication I have been given to help me sleep and calm my anxiety.  And its cheaper than therapy.  But mostly because I really enjoy it.

Someone told me that maybe I'm just not meant to be a runner.  I think I'm meant to be what ever I want to be.  So even if I have to take another week off, I will get better and keep on trucking.  I may not be as fast as you.  And I'm sure as heck not going as far as you, but I do what I can and that is enough for me.

Have any of you done the C25K?  Did you finish it?  What was your hardest week?  I was nervous about week three, but now I am super excited for it.

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Take a step. Change a life.

I just finished registering and setting up the fundraising page for the Vital Alliance/Donate Life 5 K that will be happening October 13th.  If you are local, we would love for you to join us! You can register HERE  Just fill in your info and choose as "team member"  Our team name is Team Hope.

It looks like there is going to be a lot of fun.  Free food, fun entertainment and kids games. If you register online before October 9th it is only $10 to join the team.  $15 to join as an individual.  There is a $5 late fee if you sign up the day of the walk.  Registration starts at 8:30am.  Opening Ceremony at 9:15.  There will be a free kids fun run at 9:30 and we walk at 10:00.  There will be a Healthy Fun Festival that kicks off at 10:15. So join us in Brackenridge Park at the Joske  Pavilion (the one with the big playground)!

If you are unable to walk with us and still want to help, you can donate HERE.  Each donation big or small will make an amazing difference.  Any little bit helps.

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Running Away

A new year comes with new promise.  This year one thing I would like to do is run. Maybe every day, probably not.  Not because I don't want to but because running hurts me.  I've been feeling lately like I am stuffed.  And I kinda am with my liver and spleen so enlarged.  Add that to being top heavy and running isn't the most coordinated or comfortable thing for me.  I'm sure I look like a spaz doing it too but oh well.

Yesterday mom said that if I wanted to continue to do things all year that I needed to do them all today on the first day of the new year.  I joked that I was going to get up early, make breakfast, smile as I served it, pull weeds, clean house, and run.  Its almost 10 and the only thing I didn't do was pulling weeds.  No to bad.  I was going to run this morning, but I put it off.  But when it hit 7 and still no run, I knew I had to just do it and get it over with.  So we got home from the store and I went straight to it.

I never really push myself to hard.  Some days I stop before the pain starts.  Or I just tell myself one mile is enough or 20 mins.  So afraid to push just a little bit farther. Until tonight.  Tonight, I told myself I was going to run with out a break for a few mins and I didn't stop until I did.  My treadmill has a little track that lights up with dots and I told myself I was going to run half way walk a minuet and run the rest, and I did.  Half way thought the pain in my liver kicked in but then then I got a cramp in my foot and forgot about it.  I walked for a bit but then picked it back up.  It seemed like the more I ran the less I hurt.  And then I realized I had past that point.  The one where I usually gave up.  I did it.  I know I didn't run far or fast, but that doesn't matter to me.  What matters is that I ran and I remembered just how good it feels.  I used to run to ease my anxiety and stress.  But this was something different.  I'm excited to run again.  I'm looking forward to my heart pumping, focusing in on my breathing, no music, just the sound of my feet.  30 minuets uninterrupted.  Aside from feeling better mentally, I hope to lose some weight.  Walking last year didn't seem to do much for me and so I hopefully pushing myself farther will do the trick.  I plan on buying myself some new shoes after the first 10lbs are gone!  And I really want some new shoes!

But right now I'm gonna work on my sleep goals and head to bed.  After I make lunches for tomorrow.  Oh how I am looking forward to our usual routine.  Vacation is nice, but I'm ready for reality!  Bring in 2012!

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